Hair clip



May 10, 1966 L. E. THATcHl-:R 3,250,282

HAIR CLIP Filed July 9, 1983 2 Shee'cs-Shefal 1 "IHM,

umlunmm lll INVENTOR, Lewcs E.THA'rcHER May 10, 1966 1 E. THATcHL-:R

HAIR CLIP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 9J 1963 l-Ewls E. THM-CHER Arrvs,

United States Patent O 3,250,282 HAIR CLIP Lewis E. Thatcher, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Gaylord.

This invention relates to hair fasteners, and more particularly to clips for maintaining the hair in the form of a pin curl.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive, readily manufactured lightweight clip which may lbe utilized in preparing, dressing or styling the hair.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a hair clip from a single piece of plastic material formed into two integrally connected legs wtih a spring urging them together for holding a curl or braid of hair therebetween.

A further object is to provide a hair clip which can be readily molded from plastic material in a single piece which is provided with an integral exible live hinge for pivotal movement of the legs of the clip relative to one another.

Still a further object is the provision of an integral hair clip with novel means for holding a spring between the finger gripping portions to urge the legs of the clip tgether.

This invention embodies other novel features, details of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims and illustrated in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the hair clip.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. l, the upper member or leg being shown in dotted lines in its open position.

FIG. 3 is an exploded side elevational view showing the finger gripping section of the clip and the spring component which is disposed therein.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the hair clip showing it in its normal condition.

FIG. 5 is an end elevational View looking from right to left in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a modification of the invention, illustrating a variation in the configuration of the legs 0f the clip.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view taken along the line 7 7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the hair clip shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a modification of the invention, illustrating a variation in the manner of disposing the separate spring component with the finger gripping portion of the clip.

FIG. l0 is a side elevational View taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of another modification of the invention, illustrating a further variation in the manner of disposing a separate spring member with the clamping portions of the clip, and

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view taken along the line 12--12 of FIG. 11.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a hair clip comprising a unitary body which is pressure-molded in one piece from a synthetic resinous plastic material, such as polypropylene, acetal resin of composition derived by polymerization of formaldehyde, and others. The clip 10 comprises a U-shaped section 11 and a pair of superposed legs or clamping members 12 and 13 converging in a slightly curved arc from the hinge section toward their free ends.

3,250,282 Patented May 10, 1966 ice Referring to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, each of the legs 12 and 13 is of uniform structure and, as shown with respect to leg 13, they are `bifurcated to form a pair of parallel elongated lingers 14 and 15 which are rounded at their forward ends. Extending rearwardly and angularly in offset relationship to the general plane of legs 12 and 13, and integral therewith, are a pair of finger gripping portions 16 and 17, respectively, of relatively shorter dimension, for disposing the clip in the, position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 when it is desired to clip same onto a curl.

An important feature ofthe invention resides in the provision of the U-sha-ped living hinge section 11 'integral with legs 12 and 13 and the gripping sections 16 and 17. As will be noted in FIGS. 2 and 4, the hinge 11 extends inwardly a spaced distance from the extremities of portions 16 and 17 and is disposed transversely with respect to the inner faces of legs 12 and 13.

The hinge 11 has a reduced medial area 18 with respect to the legs 12 and 13 and holds the latter in cooperative engaging relation. A longitudinally extending rectangular-shaped pocket 19 (FIG. 4) is provided on the inner faces of gripping portions 16 and 17 a spaced distance from the extremities thereof. A preformed substantially U-shaped metal spring member 20 (FIGS. 3 and 5) lof slightly smaller dimension than the pocket 19 is inserted or snapped into the latter and frictionally held against displacement in the depressed area thereof.l It will be noted that the rounded section 21 of the spring is of the same contour as the hinge 11 and 'bears against the Wall of same to hold the hinge in an erect position. The sides of spring 20 lie fiush with the inner walls of the offset linger gripping sections 16 and 17vand exert outward tension thereon at the ends of the spring thereby providing maximum pressure on the integrally connected legs 12 and 13 to urge them into normally closed position. The reduced medial area 1S provides living hinge action in conjunction with the spring 20 so that the clip may be readily opened or closed with a minimum of effort. It will be apparent that the provision of a hinge integral with the legs and the finger gripping portions permits molding of the clip in a single Apiece from a plastic material and avoids the necessity of providing lugs or the like on the legs of the clip to retain them in assembled condition. This affords econorny in manufacture, as the spring member 20 may be readily snapped into the finger gripping section with a minimum of time and effort.

In further development, longitudinally extending ribs 21 and 22 are superposed in parallel relation on the exterior of fingers 14 and 15, respectively, of each of the legs 12 and 13 and of the gripping portions 16 and 17 to afford rigidity and firmness thereto, and the interior faces of the legs 12 and 13 are provided with serrations 23 and 24, respectively, to facilitate gripping of the hair.

FIGS. 6 to S illustrate a modification in the construction of the legs of the clips, wherein legs 25 and 26 are substantially V-shaped and extend in a solid, unbroken manner from the finger gripping sections 27 and 28, respectively. The legs are provided with longitudinally extending V-shaped ribs 29 and 30 superposed on the exteriors thereof a short distance inward from the sides thereof, which converge into a pair of parallel spaced ribs on the finger gripping sections of the clip. Otherwise, the construction of the clip illustrated in this modification is identical to that illustrated and described above in connection with FIGS. 1-5. The structure of this modified form of the clip permits its manufacture in relatively small or diminutive sizes which has appeal in certain aspects of the hair dressing art.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a-rnodification in the arrangement of Athe separate spring member with the finger gripping sections of the clip. The construction of the clip. issubstantially the same as that illustrated and described in connection with FIGS. 1-5. In this modification, upper leg 13' is provided with an elongated slot or pocket 31 extending longitudinally into the leg a spaced distance forward of the hinge 11' and Aopening in a rearward direction contiguous with the upper gripping portion 17. The slot 31 is of such dimension that it will receive the tongue of a preformed substantially L-shaped spring member 32 therein and frictionally hold it against displacement. The other end of spring'32 extends in an arcuate manner to gripping portion 16 where the extremity thereof abuts a lug v33 extending transversely on the inner marginal edge ofv portion 16' and is held against displacement thereby. When the spring isdisposed in this manner it will normally urge the gripping portions apart and normally urge the clamping portions into contiguous relationship.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustra-te a further modification in the arrangement of theseparate spring member with respect to the legs-and finger gripping portions of the clip. The construction of `the legs and finger gripping portions are substantially the same as that illustrated and described with respect to FIGS. 6-8. ters of the opposed finger gripping portions 16 and 17 are provided with ysquare-shaped matching apertures 34 and 35, respectively, in alinement with each other and defined by longitudinally extending ribs 29 and 30, respectively. A separate oval-shaped metal spring 36 is inserted in apertures 34 and 35 in the manner shown in FIG. 11. An opening is provided in one side of the springto permit the latter to be laced :through apertures 34 and 35. When the spring has been assembled on the clip, one end 37 thereof will be engaged against the top of one leg, and the other end of the spring will be likewise engaged against the top of the other leg. The `two ends of the spring are firmly nested within protruding ribs 29? and 30 and prevented from lateral displacement thereby, and the width of the spring is slightly less thanthat of apertures 34 and 35 so that it will not interfere with movement of the finger gripping portions. When the spring is`assembled in this manner it will normally urge the gripping portionsgapart and normally urge the clamping portions into contiguous relationship.

While I have shown and described what I regard to In this modification the cen-.

be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be appreciated that various changes, rearrangements and modifications may be made :therein without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hair clip comprising a pair of superposed elongated members composed of synthetic resinous plastic material and an integral hinge member having an arcuate reduced medial area withrespect to the elongated members disposed transversely of and extending between ysaid members'adjacent one of their ends and defining clamping end portions and relatively `shorter finger gripping portions, a pocket formed on the inner face of each finger gripping portion, and a separate metal spring .member disposed within said pockets in frictional face to face contact throughout its entire areatherewith and with the hinge member normally urging saidy gripping portions apart and normally urging said clamping portions into contiguous relationship, the side edges of said clamping end portions being tapered in a direction from their free ends and having a pair of longitudinally extending ribs superposed on Vthe exterior surface of each clamping portion converging adjacent the free ends and extending onto the outer surfaces of the finger gripping portions.

2. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein the clamping end portions are bifuracted and the side edges thereof are substantially parallel and are each formed with longitudinally extending ribs superimposed on the exterior surface of each clamping end portion` and extending onto the outer-surfacesof the finger gripping portions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,107,348 2/1938 Solomon 132-46 2,133,145 10/1938 Jones 132-46 2,459,926 l/1949 Alberto 132-46 2,931,086 4/1960 Rose 132-46 3,025,581 3/1962 Duell. y

3,047,92'7 7/1962 Braga 132-48 X RICHARD A. GAUDETPrimary Examiner. L. W. TRAPP, AssstantExamner. 

1. A HAIR CLIP COMPRISING A PAIR OF SUPERPOSED ELONGATED MEMBERS COMPOSED OF SYNTHETIC RESINUOUS PLASTIC MATERIAL AND AN INTEGRAL HINGE MEMBER HAVING AN ARCUATE REDUCED MEDIAL AREA WITH RESPECT TO THE ELONGATED MEMBERS DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY OF AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS ADJACENT ONE OF THEIR ENDS AND DEFINING CLAMPING END PORTIONS AND RELATIVELY SHORTER FINGER GRIPPING PORTIONS, A POCKET FORMED ON THE INNER FACE OF EACH FINGER GRIPPING PORTION, AND A SEPARATE METAL SPRING MEMBER DISPOSED WITHIN SAID POCKETS IN FRICTIONAL FACE TO FACE CONTACT THROUGHOUT ITS ENTIRE AREA THEREWITH AND WITH THE HINGE MEMBER NORMALLY URGING SAID GRIPPING PORTIONS APART AND NORMALLY URGING SAID CLAMPING PORTIONS INTO CONTIGUOUS RELATIONSHIP, THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID CLAMPING END PORTIONS BEING TAPERED IN A DIRECTION FROM THEIR FREE ENDS AND HAVING A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING RIBS SUPERPOSED ON THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF EACH CLAMPING PORTION CONVERGING ADJACENT THE FREE ENDS AND EXTENDING ONTO THE OUTER SURFACES OF THE FINGER GRIPPING PORTIONS. 